Marc Eremenko scored his first goal of the season on Jan. 4, giving the Olds Grizzlys a 4-3 victory over the Drumheller Dragons in Alberta Junior Hockey League action.
Eremenko's goal at 15:18 of the third period completed a mini-comeback for the Grizzlys, who fell into a 3-2 hole earlier in the third. Spencer Dorowicz started the comeback two-and-a-half minutes before Eremenko's goal by notching his league-leading 28th goal of the seasonóand second of the gameó for the Grizzlys to tie the contest at 3-3.
Following the game, Ermenko said he was in the correct place at the correct time and managed to beat Dragons' netminder Curtis Skip.
ìI was just standing in front waiting for a shot to come through and (teammate Taylor) Bilyk got the puck there and got (a shot) and it hit the goalie and came back down and was right there and (I) just slid it five hole. I finally got the first one there and it was the game winner so I couldn't ask for anything better than that,î he said.
The Grizzlys had a 2-0 lead after the first period on goals by Dorowicz and Ty Mappin.
In the second period, Joey Raats and Christopher Rauckman evened the score for the Dragons.
In the third period, each team fired 13 shots at the net, but Eremenko said the Grizzlys fought hard in the last frame for the victory. Ethan James scored for the Dragons on a breakaway to give the visitors a 3-2 lead, before Dorowicz cued the comeback.
ìIt was really close. We were tied shots, scored one in the third period and both teams were playing really good I thought. It was going both ways but we found a way to win it,î Eremenko said.
The win was an excellent way to get started following the holiday break, and the Grizzlys hope to carry that momentum forward for the remainder of the season, Eremenko said.
ìWe're pretty pumped and we're thinking it's going to be a good start to the new year and hopefully it turns out pretty good for us,î he said.
Despite each team firing 37 shots at the nets, Brett Hopfe, the Grizzlys' head coach, said both teams did a good job defensively, keeping shots to the perimeter and keeping scoring chances to a minimum.
ìI'm proud of our defence. I think they battled extremely hard and did a good job when it comes to boxing out in front,î he said.
